Understanding Mental Health: Disorders, Risk Factors, and How to Improve Well-Being

Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and behave. It affects our daily lives, relationships, and even physical health. From common conditions like anxiety and depression to more complex disorders such as schizophrenia, mental health challenges can arise from a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors.

In this blog, we’ll explore what mental health truly means, the most prevalent mental health disorders, early warning signs, treatment options, and practical tips for maintaining mental wellness in everyday life.

What is mental health?

Mental health is about how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health care professionals can help people manage conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction, and other
disorders that affect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Mental health can affect a person’s day-to-day life, relationships, and physical health. External factors in people’s lives and relationships can also contribute to their mental well-being.

Looking after one’s mental health can help a person maintain their ability to enjoy life. This involves balancing their activities, responsibilities, and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.

Stress, depression, and anxiety can affect mental health and may disrupt a person’s routine.

Although healthcare professionals often use the term “mental health”, doctors recognise that many mental health conditions have physical roots. This article explains what mental health and mental health conditions mean. It also describes the most common types of mental health disorders, including their early signs and how to treat them.

Risk factors for mental health conditions

Everyone is at some risk of developing a mental health disorder, regardless of age, sex, income, or ethnicity. In the U.S. and much of the developed world, depression is one of the leading causes of disability.

Social and financial circumstances, adverse childhood experiences, biological factors, and underlying medical conditions can all shape a person’s mental well-being.

Many people with a mental health disorder have more than one condition at the same time.

It is important to note that mental well-being depends on a balance of factors,  and several elements may contribute to the development of a mental health disorder.

The following factors can contribute to mental health conditions.

Socioeconomic pressure

Having limited financial means or belonging to a marginalized ethnic group can increase the risk of mental health disorders as a result of biases in healthcare.

A 2015 Iranian study describes several socioeconomic causes of mental health conditions, including poverty and living on the outskirts of a large city.

The researchers also described flexible (modifiable) and inflexible (nonmodifiable) factors that can affect the availability and quality of mental health care treatment for certain groups.

Modifiable factors for mental health disorders include:
● socioeconomic conditions
● occupation
● a person’s level of social involvement
● education
● housing quality

Nonmodifiable factors include:
● gender
● age
● ethnicity
● nationality

The researchers found that being female increased the risk of low mental health status by nearly four times. People with a “weak economic status” scored highest for mental health conditions in this study.

Childhood adversity

A report that childhood traumas such as child abuse, parental loss, parental separation, and parental illness significantly affect a growing child’s mental and physical health.

There are associations between childhood abuse and other adverse events and mental health disorders. These experiences also make people vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Biological factors

The NIMH suggests that a person’s family history can increase the likelihood of mental health conditions, as specific genes and gene variants put a person at higher risk. However, having a gene associated with a mental health disorder does not guarantee that a condition will develop.

Likewise, people without related genes or a family history of mental health conditions may have a mental health disorder.

Types of mental health disorders
Healthcare professionals group mental health disorders according to the features they have in common. They include:

●    anxiety disorders
●    mood disorders
●    schizophrenia disorders

Anxiety disorders

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders.

People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety related to certain objects or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety.

Below are some examples of anxiety disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry or fear that disrupts everyday living.

People may also experience physical symptoms, including:

●    restlessness
●    fatigue
●    poor concentration
●    tense muscles
●    interrupted sleep

Anxiety symptoms do not always have a specific trigger in people with GAD.

They may experience excessive anxiety when encountering everyday situations that do not pose a direct danger, such as chores or appointments. A person with GAD may sometimes feel anxiety with no trigger at all.

Panic disorder

People with panic disorder experience regular panic attacks involving sudden, overwhelming terror or a sense of imminent disaster and death.

Phobias

There are many types of phobias, and what may seem typical to one person might be a severe problem that dominates daily life for another. Different types include:

• Simple phobias: These may involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios, or animals. A fear of spiders is a typical example.
• Social phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, this is a fear of being watched or judged by others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may experience constant, stressful thoughts and an urge to perform repetitive acts, such as handwashing.

PTSD

PTSD can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a stressful or traumatic event. During this type of event, the person thinks their life or other people’s lives are in danger. They may feel afraid or that they have no control over what is happening.

These sensations of trauma and fear may then contribute to PTSD.

Schizophrenia disorders

The term “schizophrenia” often refers to a spectrum of disorders characterized by features of psychosis and other severe symptoms. These are highly complex conditions.

According to the NIMH, signs of schizophrenia typically develop between the ages of 16 and 30. A person will have thoughts that appear fragmented, and may also find it hard to process information.

Early signs

No physical test or scan reliably indicates whether a person has developed a mental health condition. However, people should look out for the following as possible signs:

●    withdrawing from friends, family, and colleagues
●    avoiding activities they would usually enjoy
●    sleeping too much or too little
●    eating too much or too little
●    feeling hopeless
●    having consistently low energy
●    using mood-altering substances, including alcohol and nicotine, more frequently
●    displaying negative emotions
●    being confused

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a mental health disorder requires a multistep process. A doctor may begin by looking at a person’s medical history and performing a thorough physical exam to rule out a physical condition that may be causing the symptoms. They may also order laboratory tests, such as imaging exams and bloodwork, to screen for possible underlying causes.

The healthcare professional will also do a psychological evaluation. This includes asking about a person’s symptoms and experiences and how these affect the individual’s life. The doctor may ask a person to complete mental health questionnaires to help understand their thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns.
 
Most mental health care professionals use the American Psychiatric
Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) to make a diagnosis. The DSM-5-TR contains descriptions and specific criteria for a diagnosis.

Treatment

Various methods are available to help manage mental health conditions. Treatment is highly individual, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Some strategies or treatments are more successful in combination with others. A person with a mental health disorder may choose different options at various stages in their life.

It is important for an individual to work closely with a doctor who can help them identify their needs and provide suitable treatment.

Below are some treatment options for people with mental health conditions.

Psychotherapy, or talking therapies

The following types of therapy take a psychological approach to treating mental health:

●    cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
●    exposure therapy
●    dialectical behavior therapy
 
Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and some primary care physicians carry out these treatments.

Therapy may help individuals to understand the cause of their mental health condition. Working with a healthcare professional may help people manage their day-to-day living and reduce any risk of isolation and self-harm.

Medication

Some people take prescribed medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and drugs for anxiety.

Although these medications cannot cure mental health disorders, some can help improve symptoms. They may also help a person to manage their social interactions and routines.

Some medications boost the body’s absorption of feel-good chemicals, such as serotonin, from the brain. Other drugs either boost the levels of these chemicals or help prevent their degradation or destruction.

Self-help

A person coping with a mental health condition may decide to make certain lifestyle changes to help them manage their well-being.

Changes may include reducing alcohol intake, if applicable trying to improve sleep quality eating a balanced, nutritious diet taking time away from work, if this is possible practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness
 
A support network, whether through self-help groups or close friends and family, can be helpful to a person’s well-being.

Steps to help maintain mental well-being

According to the NIMH, the following steps can help a person manage their mental health by reducing their risk of illness, increasing energy levels, and controlling stress:

• Regular exercise: Exercising for 45 minutes three to five times a week can help improve a person’s mental health.
• Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated: This can help a person maintain a constant supply of energy throughout the day.
• Aim for good-quality sleep: A 2021 review found that significant improvements in sleep quality led to greater improvements in mental health.
• Perform relaxing activities: Breathing exercises, meditation, wellness apps, and journaling can help reduce stress and improve overall health and well-being.
• Practice mindfulness and gratitude: A person can identify and note things they are grateful for at the end of each day.
• Look for positive social interactions: Connecting with people and maintaining meaningful relationships can help reduce stress and be a source of support and practical help in times of need.